Pivotal-jaw vise having fulcrum and cam independently adjustable



G. W. RIDGE PIVOTAL-JAW VISE HAVING FULCRUM AND CAM INDEPENDENTLY ADJUSTABLE April 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1954 INVENTOR. GEORGE W. 57065 his Attorney. 1

April 16, 1957 G. w. RIDGE 2,788,687

PIVOTAL-JAW VISE HAVING FULCRUM AND CAM INDEPENDENTLY ADJUSTABLE Filed Dec. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I g hgm/zq m VE/VTOR. GEORGE W moss,

his Attorney.

PIVOTAL-JAW VISE HAVING FULCRUM AND CAM INDEPENDENTLY ADJUSTABEE George W. Ridge, Orem, Utah Application December 8, 1954, Serial No. 473,903

3 Claims. (Cl. 81-25) The present invention relates to a vise and has for its principal object the provision of a cam-actuated, fastaeting vise of the type particularly suitable for use on a work bench for holding materials of varying thicknesses for the purpose of having work performed thereon.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a work-holding vise which can be tightly closed by a gripping force exerted near the top of the jaws of the vise by only slight movement of the closing handle thereof.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the device of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view;

Figure 3 is a side elevation;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line VV of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line VlVI of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 designates a base plate provided with conventional fittings for attaching the same to a work bench. A fixed jaw 4 having an overhanging work-engaging portion 6 is upstanding on the base plate adjacent one edge thereof. An upstanding bearing standard 8 is adjustably mounted on the base plate 2 adjacent the edge thereof remote from the afiixed jaw 4. The bearing standard 8 is affixed to the base 2 by means of spaced bolts 10 which project through elongated slots 12 in the base plate and are threaded into drilled-and-tapped holes 14 in the underside of the bearing standard. By adjustment of the bolts 10 in the elongated slots 12 the bearing standard 8 may be adjusted toward and away from fixed jaw 6.

A movable jaw 16 having an overhanging work-engaging portion 17, is hinged to the base plate 2 between the bearing standard 8 and the fixed jaw 4 for cooperation with the fixed jaw.

The bottom of the movable jaw 16 is formed with a central projection 18 which is pivotally mounted in a hinge bracket 20 by means of a pin 22. The bracket 2% is adjustably mounted on the base 2 by means of bolts 24 which pass through elongated slots 26 in the ends of the hinge bracket and are threaded into drilled-andtapped holes in the base plate. The slotted openings 26 which accommodate the bolts 24 make it possible to ad just the hinge bracket 20 toward and away from the fixed jaw 4 so as to permit workpieces of varying thicknesses to be accommodated.

As best shown in Figure 2, the bearing standard 8 projects upwardly from the base 2 to a point slightly above the approximate horizontal center line of the movable jaw 16. A cam shaft 28 is journaled in the upper portion of the bearing standard 8 parallel to base 2 and movable jaw 16 with an end thereof projecting outwardly of the standard. The upper portion of the bearing stand- States Patent ice "ard is provided with 'slots 30 through which *the cam shaft passes and which serve'to' accommodate-cam disks 32 which are fixedon-the portions of the'cam "shaft in the recesses 30.

A handle 34 is providedonthe projeeting end df the "cam shaft 28 whereby'the cam- 'shaft*rnaybe rotateii in one directionto cause the "cam-disks :32 to engagehar'dened inserts fi'dwhich are provided in-the outer face-of the movable jaw 16 to thereby force the jaw 16 against the fixed jaw 4. Two helical springs 38 are each attached at one end to the movable jaw 16 and, at its other end, to the bearing standard 8 so that when the cam shaft 28 is rotated in the opposite direction to release the cam surfaces of the disk 32 from engagement with the inserts 36 the springs 38 cause the movable jaw 16 to return quickly to its original position.

As the disks 32 become worn the bearing standard 8 may be adjusted to compensate for the wear by adjusting the position of the bolts 10 in the elongated slots 12.

A longitudinal slot 40 is provided in the base plate 2 for the purpose of accommodating long work pieces to be held between the jaws 4 and 16.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A vise comprising a flat base plate, a fixed jaw upstanding on said plate and having a work-engaging surface overhanging at one side thereof, a bearing standard mounted on said base parallel with and spaced from said jaw, said base having at least one elongated slot therethrough disposed subjacent said bearing standard and extending normal to said fixed jaw, fastening means connected with said standard and extending through said slot for securing said standard to said base, said fastening means being adjustable along the length of said slot to adjust the space between said standard and said fixed jaw, a movable jaw hinged to said plate independently of said standard and said fixed jaw, said movable jaw being disposed between and spaced from said bearing standard and said fixed jaw for cooperation with the latter, said standard having a transverse slot in the upper edge thereof, a cam shaft journaled in said standard parallel with said base and with said movable jaw and extending through said slot, a cam on the portion of said shaft lying within said last-named slot, said cam being adapted to force the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw, and a handle on said shaft spaced from said cam for rotating said shaft.

2. A vise as defined in claim 1 including a bracket adjustably secured to said base plate independently of said bearing standard and said fixed jaw between and spaced from said bearing standard and said fixed jaw, said bracket being adjustable toward and away from said fixed jaw, and said movable jaw being pivoted to said bracket.

3. A vise comprising a fiat base plate, a fixed jaw mounted on said base and projecting upwardly therefrom, a bearing standard having at least one recess in the upper portion thereof and being adjustably secured to said base so as to extend parallel to, and in spaced relation with, said jaw, said bearing standard being adjustable toward and away from said jaw, a bracket adjustably secured to said plate between and spaced from said fixed jaw and said standard, said bracket being adjustable toward and away from said fixed jaw, a movable jaw hinged to said bracket and projecting upwardly therefrom adjacent said fixed jaw, said bearing standard projecting to a height above a point midway of the height of said movable jaw but short of the upper edge thereof, a horizontally extending cam shaft journaled in the upper por- 3 tion of said bearing standard so as to extend parallel to said movable jaw, said cam shaft extending through said recess and projecting from one end of said bearing standard, at least one cam disk fixed on that portion of said cam shaft in said recess, said cam disk being adapted to 5 engage the outer face of said movable jaw to force the same toward the fixed jaw upon rotation of said cam shaft, handle means mounted on the projecting end of said cam shaft for rotating the same, and said base plate having a longitudinal work receiving slot therein between 19 and parallel to said bracket and said fixed jaw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Holen Apr. 16,

Cashman June 29,

Ashworth July 4,

Verderber et a1 Apr. 11,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 31, 

